Have never been to Beziers but have stayed in Carcassonne. Beautiful castle and nice canal, but hole of a city.

Montpellier is big so might be things to do.

Quote ="jameswk"come on folks lets get back to the original thread topic icon_wink.gif" alt="icon_wink.gif" title="Wink" />'" Technically, this is a rumour - as it's not confirmed yet - and seeing as this is a rumours/signings thread, it's on topic. icon_wink.gif" alt="icon_wink.gif" title="Wink" />

Quote ="jameswk"come on folks lets get back to the original thread topic icon_wink.gif" alt="icon_wink.gif" title="Wink" />'" Technically, this is a rumour - as it's not confirmed yet - and seeing as this is a rumours/signings thread, it's on topic. icon_wink.gif" alt="icon_wink.gif" title="Wink" />

According to Catalans board its at Montipellier this year instead on Biziers

I have it under good authority that Graham has or is about to put pen to a 1 year extension on his Saints contract, so it looks like that part of the dream could be over?

He was never ever ever coming to Wigan.

When is his contract up?



Why would he only sign a one year extension?



That's nothing to do with the Wigan rumour, it just seems stupid for him to only agree one extra year.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"When is his contract up? Why would he only sign a one year extension? That's nothing to do with the Wigan rumour, it just seems stupid for him to only agree one extra ">year.'" Unless he's forward planning to leave St's when it's up? Possibly NRL?

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"When is his contract up? Why would he only sign a one year extension? That's nothing to do with the Wigan rumour, it just seems stupid for him to only agree one extra ">year.'" Unless he's forward planning to leave St's when it's up? Possibly NRL?

I'd love 2 see Graham in the NRL. He's a top player that I'd love 2 see play at the highest level of the game!

I think it's certainly an option for him and one option I hope he grabs with both hand's should it come along. I have a feeling Graham may well one day end up like Fielden, so if I were him, as soon as the NRL come calling I'd be asking "Reet, where do I sign?"

As long as the deal included lots of sun cream!

Quote ="jonh"As long as the deal included lots of sun cream!'" thats just what i thought icon_lol.gif" alt="icon_lol.gif" title="Laughing" />

Quote ="jonh"As long as the deal included lots of sun cream!'" thats just what i thought icon_lol.gif" alt="icon_lol.gif" title="Laughing" />

Can never understand why anyone wants to see our top players leave the game here be it to the NRL or to RU. I know the NRL is better and RU offers more cash but it's a sad state of affairs when people think our (as in RL's) best players would be better off elsewhere.



Dave

Do not think anyone wants any of our players to go to Union never seen that posted or heard anyone say it. The only reason I think people want go nto the NRL is to improve there game and hence improve International rugby which is the only way our game will get any credibility on a World level.

Quote ="jonh"Do not think anyone wants any of our players to go to Union never seen that posted or heard anyone say it. The only reason I think people want go nto the NRL is to improve there game and hence improve International rugby which is the only way our game will get any credibility on a World ">level.'" Sorry Jon, but I'm with Dave on this one. There seems to be a naive belief among British fans that sending all our best players to the NRL is the way forward. To me, that is the worst kind of forlock tugging. The evidence thus far suggests that that there's about a 50% chance it will improve their game and not actually ruin it. While there's considerably less than a 50% chance that those who go over there and succeed will return in time to do any more than earn an end-of-career payday from the likes of Warrington. On the evidence of his no-show last week, Morley is counting down the minutes to his retirement. I'm sure Gareth Ellis will do the same thing. What the f**k good is it to SL if our best players spend their prime years in another competition? Because it will give us more of an edge at international level? Do me a favour. As long as we've only got a pool of about 200 professional players to select the England team from, we'll always be third best at world level. If we genuinely want to improve internationally, we'd do better to modernise the salary cap so that it encourages clubs to produce more players rather than tries to peg the top clubs back.

Quote ="jonh"Do not think anyone wants any of our players to go to Union never seen that posted or heard anyone say it. The only reason I think people want go nto the NRL is to improve there game and hence improve International rugby which is the only way our game will get any credibility on a World ">level.'" Sorry Jon, but I'm with Dave on this one. There seems to be a naive belief among British fans that sending all our best players to the NRL is the way forward. To me, that is the worst kind of forlock tugging. The evidence thus far suggests that that there's about a 50% chance it will improve their game and not actually ruin it. While there's considerably less than a 50% chance that those who go over there and succeed will return in time to do any more than earn an end-of-career payday from the likes of Warrington. On the evidence of his no-show last week, Morley is counting down the minutes to his retirement. I'm sure Gareth Ellis will do the same thing. What the f**k good is it to SL if our best players spend their prime years in another competition? Because it will give us more of an edge at international level? Do me a favour. As long as we've only got a pool of about 200 professional players to select the England team from, we'll always be third best at world level. If we genuinely want to improve internationally, we'd do better to modernise the salary cap so that it encourages clubs to produce more players rather than tries to peg the top clubs back.

Quote ="Cruncher"Sorry Jon, but I'm with Dave on this one. There seems to be a naive belief among British fans that sending all our best players to the NRL is the way forward. To me, that is the worst kind of forlock tugging. The evidence thus far suggests that that there's about a 50% chance it will improve their game and not actually ruin it. While there's considerably less than a 50% chance that those who go over there and succeed will return in time to do any more than earn an end-of-career payday from the likes of Warrington. On the evidence of his no-show last week, Morley is counting down the minutes to his retirement. I'm sure Gareth Ellis will do the same thing. What the f**k good is it to SL if our best players spend their prime years in another competition? Because it will give us more of an edge at international level? Do me a favour. As long as we've only got a pool of about 200 professional players to select the England team from, we'll always be third best at world level. If we genuinely want to improve internationally, we'd do better to modernise the salary cap so that it encourages clubs to produce more players rather than tries to peg the top clubs ">back.'" eusa_clap.gif" alt="eusa_clap.gif" title="CLAP" />

Quote ="Cruncher"Sorry Jon, but I'm with Dave on this one. There seems to be a naive belief among British fans that sending all our best players to the NRL is the way forward. To me, that is the worst kind of forlock tugging. The evidence thus far suggests that that there's about a 50% chance it will improve their game and not actually ruin it. While there's considerably less than a 50% chance that those who go over there and succeed will return in time to do any more than earn an end-of-career payday from the likes of Warrington. On the evidence of his no-show last week, Morley is counting down the minutes to his retirement. I'm sure Gareth Ellis will do the same thing. What the f**k good is it to SL if our best players spend their prime years in another competition? Because it will give us more of an edge at international level? Do me a favour. As long as we've only got a pool of about 200 professional players to select the England team from, we'll always be third best at world level. If we genuinely want to improve internationally, we'd do better to modernise the salary cap so that it encourages clubs to produce more players rather than tries to peg the top clubs ">back.'" eusa_clap.gif" alt="eusa_clap.gif" title="CLAP" />

Quote ="Cruncher"Sorry Jon, but I'm with Dave on this one. There seems to be a naive belief among British fans that sending all our best players to the NRL is the way forward. To me, that is the worst kind of forlock tugging. The evidence thus far suggests that that there's about a 50% chance it will improve their game and not actually ruin it. While there's considerably less than a 50% chance that those who go over there and succeed will return in time to do any more than earn an end-of-career payday from the likes of Warrington. On the evidence of his no-show last week, Morley is counting down the minutes to his retirement. I'm sure Gareth Ellis will do the same thing. What the f**k good is it to SL if our best players spend their prime years in another competition? Because it will give us more of an edge at international level? Do me a favour. As long as we've only got a pool of about 200 professional players to select the England team from, we'll always be third best at world level. If we genuinely want to improve internationally, we'd do better to modernise the salary cap so that it encourages clubs to produce more players rather than tries to peg the top clubs ">back.'" We can look at ways at improving the game by altering the cap etc, but they are not going to happen. The only way certain players are going to improve is if they test themselves at the next level up which is the NRL. I do not for 1 minute think every good British player should go to the NRL but i think the forwards in particular can benefit from playing at a higher intensity. England in my opinion need to add some real metal to the pack, in the short term, and the only way that is going to happen is by players like Ellis and Burgess to the NRL, would also like Westwood, Crabtree and Locky to have had a spell over there. Long term we need to improve the standard of our comp, but if we want to compete at the next World Cup then we have to look at short term fixes sadly.

Quote ="Cruncher"Sorry Jon, but I'm with Dave on this one. There seems to be a naive belief among British fans that sending all our best players to the NRL is the way forward. To me, that is the worst kind of forlock tugging. The evidence thus far suggests that that there's about a 50% chance it will improve their game and not actually ruin it. While there's considerably less than a 50% chance that those who go over there and succeed will return in time to do any more than earn an end-of-career payday from the likes of Warrington. On the evidence of his no-show last week, Morley is counting down the minutes to his retirement. I'm sure Gareth Ellis will do the same thing. What the f**k good is it to SL if our best players spend their prime years in another competition? Because it will give us more of an edge at international level? Do me a favour. As long as we've only got a pool of about 200 professional players to select the England team from, we'll always be third best at world level. If we genuinely want to improve internationally, we'd do better to modernise the salary cap so that it encourages clubs to produce more players rather than tries to peg the top clubs ">back.'" We can look at ways at improving the game by altering the cap etc, but they are not going to happen. The only way certain players are going to improve is if they test themselves at the next level up which is the NRL. I do not for 1 minute think every good British player should go to the NRL but i think the forwards in particular can benefit from playing at a higher intensity. England in my opinion need to add some real metal to the pack, in the short term, and the only way that is going to happen is by players like Ellis and Burgess to the NRL, would also like Westwood, Crabtree and Locky to have had a spell over there. Long term we need to improve the standard of our comp, but if we want to compete at the next World Cup then we have to look at short term fixes sadly.

Quote ="jonh"We can look at ways at improving the game by altering the cap etc, but they are not going to happen. The only way certain players are going to improve is if they test themselves at the next level up which is the NRL. I do not for 1 minute think every good British player should go to the NRL but i think the forwards in particular can benefit from playing at a higher intensity. England in my opinion need to add some real metal to the pack, in the short term, and the only way that is going to happen is by players like Ellis and Burgess to the NRL, would also like Westwood, Crabtree and Locky to have had a spell over there. Long term we need to improve the standard of our comp, but if we want to compete at the next World Cup then we have to look at short term fixes ">sadly.'" But that's at the expense of our own competition, which I cant't agree with. We need all the good players we can get. As it is, any bright star who emerges in the three-quarters will go to Rugby Union. And now we want to send our best forwards away as well? For me, the end result of being able to compete with Australia - which is only guaranteed to happen if we send ALL our international squad over there - does not justify such a drastic reduction in the quality of our domestic game.

Quote ="jonh"We can look at ways at improving the game by altering the cap etc, but they are not going to happen. The only way certain players are going to improve is if they test themselves at the next level up which is the NRL. I do not for 1 minute think every good British player should go to the NRL but i think the forwards in particular can benefit from playing at a higher intensity. England in my opinion need to add some real metal to the pack, in the short term, and the only way that is going to happen is by players like Ellis and Burgess to the NRL, would also like Westwood, Crabtree and Locky to have had a spell over there. Long term we need to improve the standard of our comp, but if we want to compete at the next World Cup then we have to look at short term fixes ">sadly.'" But that's at the expense of our own competition, which I cant't agree with. We need all the good players we can get. As it is, any bright star who emerges in the three-quarters will go to Rugby Union. And now we want to send our best forwards away as well? For me, the end result of being able to compete with Australia - which is only guaranteed to happen if we send ALL our international squad over there - does not justify such a drastic reduction in the quality of our domestic game.

Quote ="Cruncher"But that's at the expense of our own competition, which I cant't agree with. We need all the good players we can get. As it is, any bright star who emerges in the three-quarters will go to Rugby Union. And now we want to send our best forwards away as well? For me, the end result of being able to compete with Australia - which is only guaranteed to happen if we send ALL our international squad over there - does not justify such a drastic reduction in the quality of our domestic ">game.'" I disagree as i think we need to concentrate on our own style of play in the backs, because quite frankly we will never compete with them in this department. Its like reducing the quota, that is and will clearly harm our competition regards the standards but in needs to be done if we are ever going to get an acceptable pool of players from which to select. Long term i agree 100% we have to work towards strengthening our own competition, but as a short term measure with all the restrictions that currently exist it is a quick fix and ensuring our players are prepared for the intensity the Aussies and Kiwis play. We are constantly caught cold from the kick off against them as we have no idea how to deal with them till we get into the pace of the game, by which time it is usually too late.

Quote ="Cruncher"But that's at the expense of our own competition, which I cant't agree with. We need all the good players we can get. As it is, any bright star who emerges in the three-quarters will go to Rugby Union. And now we want to send our best forwards away as well? For me, the end result of being able to compete with Australia - which is only guaranteed to happen if we send ALL our international squad over there - does not justify such a drastic reduction in the quality of our domestic ">game.'" I disagree as i think we need to concentrate on our own style of play in the backs, because quite frankly we will never compete with them in this department. Its like reducing the quota, that is and will clearly harm our competition regards the standards but in needs to be done if we are ever going to get an acceptable pool of players from which to select. Long term i agree 100% we have to work towards strengthening our own competition, but as a short term measure with all the restrictions that currently exist it is a quick fix and ensuring our players are prepared for the intensity the Aussies and Kiwis play. We are constantly caught cold from the kick off against them as we have no idea how to deal with them till we get into the pace of the game, by which time it is usually too late.

To improve the game long term a rule brought in that players brought through your system didn't count fully on the salary cap would help a great deal and would increase the player pool we'd have to choose from massively.



That would take a few years to fully take effect though so in the meantime I see no problem with a few players going testing themselves in the NRL. It's the best league in the world by miles and would serve to give some of our lads the belief that they can compete at the top level.



Long term though we have to improve our own compatition and stop letting the 'have nots' make the rules.

Quote ="NickyKiss"To improve the game long term a rule brought in that players brought through your system didn't count fully on the salary cap would help a great deal and would increase the player pool we'd have to choose from massively. That would take a few years to fully take effect though so in the meantime I see no problem with a few players going testing themselves in the NRL. It's the best league in the world by miles and would serve to give some of our lads the belief that they can compete at the top level. Long term though we have to improve our own compatition and stop letting the 'have nots' make the ">rules.'" Agree it is a long term project to get the Standard of SL up to anywhere near the NRl and while we put systems in place to do this which i think we are trying to do, players like Graham etc will never realise there potential as they simply cannot be tested like they would be in the NRL week in week out.

Quote ="NickyKiss"To improve the game long term a rule brought in that players brought through your system didn't count fully on the salary cap would help a great deal and would increase the player pool we'd have to choose from massively. That would take a few years to fully take effect though so in the meantime I see no problem with a few players going testing themselves in the NRL. It's the best league in the world by miles and would serve to give some of our lads the belief that they can compete at the top level. Long term though we have to improve our own compatition and stop letting the 'have nots' make the ">rules.'" Agree it is a long term project to get the Standard of SL up to anywhere near the NRl and while we put systems in place to do this which i think we are trying to do, players like Graham etc will never realise there potential as they simply cannot be tested like they would be in the NRL week in week out.

I think a few people are going a little OTT about this.



I just want to see Graham go to the NRL because I’d love to see how he goes over there that’s all. It’s a far better & harder comp and I’d like to see if the top prop in SL can hack it over there as I think he could.



That's all. Hardly a controversial post or the death of RL

Personally, I think its a fantastic idea for the best players from all the other SL clubs to spend several seasons in the NRL.

I didn't say it was the death of RL. But I'd rather see him doing it over here than hear about him doing it over there.



It's not a small thing, though. If just Graham goes, fine - he'll be a better player, Saints will get some much-needed cash and whichever Aussie club signs him will have yet another star with which to lighten up their competition. But it won't significantly improve England's international chances. To do that, you'd need to send ALL of our top players over there, and then all of a sudden you're looking at something that could indeed damage our domestic game because we've got few enough stars as it is.

Idiot alert



Morley has been fantastic at Warrington and has worked his nuts off week after week and earnt an extra two years on his contract. And in case you have forgotten he did get to lift the Challenge Cup this year.



Perhaps he should of not bothered and took his career to another level like Stuart Fielden did in chasing the money at Wigan rather than challenging himself at the top level of the game in the NRL.

Quote ="Paul Youane"Idiot alert Morley has been fantastic at Warrington and has worked his nuts off week after week and earnt an extra two years on his contract. And in case you have forgotten he did get to lift the Challenge Cup this year. Perhaps he should of not bothered and took his career to another level like Stuart Fielden did in chasing the money at Wigan rather than challenging himself at the top level of the game in the ">NRL.'" Perhaps you should stop being an offensive gimp and realise that Cruncher was only trying to make a point that his best years were played in the NRL, you're very foolish if you think that's not the case.

Quote ="Paul Youane"Idiot alert Morley has been fantastic at Warrington and has worked his nuts off week after week and earnt an extra two years on his contract. And in case you have forgotten he did get to lift the Challenge Cup this year. Perhaps he should of not bothered and took his career to another level like Stuart Fielden did in chasing the money at Wigan rather than challenging himself at the top level of the game in the ">NRL.'" Perhaps you should stop being an offensive gimp and realise that Cruncher was only trying to make a point that his best years were played in the NRL, you're very foolish if you think that's not the case.